Greek Ground Turkey

Made with bright ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, lemon juice, and fresh parsley, this Greek Ground Turkey recipe makes the perfect healthy weeknight meal. Serve over a bed of rice with sliced cucumbers and cherry tomatoes for the ultimate meal on any occasion.

After making this dish for the first time, my first thought was: where has this been all my life?! Savory, salty, tangy, fresh—this delicious Greek Ground Turkey recipe covers all the bases.

This dish comes together from start to finish in under 20 minutes, making it the perfect meal to whip up during the week. It’s crazy to think that so much incredible flavor can be produced in such a short amount of time, but this recipe is the real deal.

I love prepping a batch large enough to enjoy over a few meals, especially during weeks when I’m even busier than usual. Once it’s prepped, all I have to do is prep a batch of rice or quinoa to serve it with, and voila! My work is done. Swap it in for the chicken in these Greek Chicken Bowls for the perfect meal prep lunch.

Everyone I’ve made this dish for has fallen in love with it just like I did the first time I made it. Even picky chicken finger-loving kids have approved of this delicious Greek-inspired meal. Whether you’re serving this recipe for lunch, dinner, or at your next family gathering, it guarantees to be a crowd-pleaser. Try it out and let me know what you think!

Key Ingredients

This flavorful dish comes together with an assortment of mouthwatering ingredients. The key ingredients you will need for this dish include:

• Ground turkey: I prefer to use 99% lean ground turkey for this recipe, but you can use a less lean version like 93% or 80% if you’d prefer.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic yields the most flavorful results, but garlic powder can be used in a pinch.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: You can typically find these in a jar in the produce section at the grocery store. You can pat them dry before using or add them to the dish along with the flavorful oils they’re packed with.
• Kalamata olives: Named after a city in Greece, these tiny fruits bring salty and savory flavors to the dish.
• Feta cheese: This sharp and tangy cheese is a staple in Greek cuisine, so I could think of no better cheese to complement this dish!
• Parsley: The fresher the better! Fresh herbs like parsley add a ton of bright flavor to any dish.
• Lemon juice: The acidity from the lemon juice brightens up the dish and adds delicious tangy flavor.
• Spices: This recipe is seasoned simply with salt, pepper, oregano, and basil. These spices are used often in Greek dishes and add a ton of flavor to the dish.

How to Serve This Dish

The beautiful thing about a ground turkey dish is that it’s incredibly versatile and can be paired with a variety of sides. I typically serve this dish with basmati or brown rice and toppings like cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. Here are a few more of ways you can serve Greek Ground Turkey:

• Mixed into a quinoa skillet
• Over a bed of greens
• Alongside roasted potatoes
• With a dollop of tzatziki or Greek yogurt
• Mixed into a big bowl of pasta
• With a side of roasted or grilled vegetables
• On its own!

Storage and Substitutions

These are some of my top tips for storing this dish and making tasty substitutions:

• To store this dish in the fridge, transfer it to an airtight bag or container and store for up to 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can also store it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
• If you don’t want to use 99% lean ground turkey, you can use a variation with a higher fat content like 93% or 80% lean.
• If you want to try a different protein source, ground chicken or beef work great in this recipe as well.
• To add a little heat to the dish, sprinkle some crushed red pepper over the top before serving.
• To cut down on time, you can buy pre-diced onions and minced garlic. This works great for those days when you just don’t feel like chopping anything up!
• If you’re dairy-free, feel free to omit the feta cheese.
• For a vegetarian alternative, use cooked rice in place of the ground turkey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this dish:

What can I pair with this dish?

You can pair this with anything you like, but some of my favorite choices are grilled pita bread, pita chips, rice, tzatziki, and a cold salad.

What should I use for toppings?

My toppings of choice are freshly squeezed lemon juice, crumbled feta cheese, fresh herbs like parsley, sliced cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes.

Do you use oil for ground turkey?

This depends on the amount of fat in the ground turkey you choose. Variations with a higher fat content don’t require oil, but the 99% lean ground turkey option we use in this recipe is extremely lean and therefore requires a bit of oil to prevent sticking to the pan.

Is ground turkey better for you than ground beef?

While both ground turkey and ground beef are excellent sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals, ground turkey is lower in saturated fat and is therefore considered to be the healthier choice.

How long should you cook ground turkey?

Ground meat like ground turkey cooks quicker than whole meat like a turkey breast, so it shouldn’t take more than 4-5 minutes to cook all the way through. When cooking ground turkey, you want to cook it until you can no longer see any pink and the meat has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

More Ground Turkey Recipes:

• Ground Turkey Tacos
• Thai Basil Ground Turkey
• Zucchini and Ground Turkey Pizza Boats
• Spicy Ground Turkey and Green Bean Stir-Fry
• Turkey Taco Salad